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What Causes Tightness In Chest, Throat Congestion, Severe Cough And Rib Cage Pain?

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Posted on Fri, 18 Dec 2015
Question: Hi, I had a asthma attack on Wednesday. I have a breathing treatment machine and I did 3 treatments on Wednesday. Yesterday and today I have a tightness in my chest and I keep feeling like I need to clear my throat. I am having coughing fits that are causing me to vomit. I also am having pain under my rib cage on the left side of my back. The breathing treatments don't seem to be helping anymore and I am not sure what to do.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Increase the frequency of nebulization and see if it helps.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone through your query. I presume that the breathing treatment machine that you mention, is a nebulizer. From the description it seems that the nebulization frequency needs to be increased. You can take it on 2 hourly or 3 hourly basis. Be sure to add 2 ml normal saline (0.9% NaCl) to albuterol before adding it to the nebulizer everytime.

You also need to take some antiallergic like cetirizine once daily for few days. That should help in improving the cough.

Although the discomfort seems to be due to respiratory cause, you still needs to visit a doctor who would be able to assess if there is a possibility of heart cause involved and whether it requires urgent intervention.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (14 hours later)
Thank you for your response. I am still concerned with the pain on the left side of my back under the rib cage. I am not sure how it's related but it is very tender and I cannot lay on that side.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Could be due to inflammation of the pleura

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

The pain on the left side of could be due to pleurisy or the inflammation of pleura during a respiratory infection. But there is no way for me to confirm about the actual cause without being able to examine you clinically.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1954

Answered : 4467 Questions

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What Causes Tightness In Chest, Throat Congestion, Severe Cough And Rib Cage Pain?

Brief Answer: Increase the frequency of nebulization and see if it helps. Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. I have gone through your query. I presume that the breathing treatment machine that you mention, is a nebulizer. From the description it seems that the nebulization frequency needs to be increased. You can take it on 2 hourly or 3 hourly basis. Be sure to add 2 ml normal saline (0.9% NaCl) to albuterol before adding it to the nebulizer everytime. You also need to take some antiallergic like cetirizine once daily for few days. That should help in improving the cough. Although the discomfort seems to be due to respiratory cause, you still needs to visit a doctor who would be able to assess if there is a possibility of heart cause involved and whether it requires urgent intervention. Regards